What Is A Ward In Game Of Thrones

What is a Ward in Game of Thrones?

In the intricate world of Westeros, where noble houses vie for power and control, the practice of taking a “ward” plays a significant role. A ward, in simple terms, is like a guest or a hostage living in the household of another lord or lady. This isn’t just about having someone over for a visit though; it’s a carefully considered practice with deep political and social implications. It’s a way to build connections, ensure loyalty, and sometimes, prevent wars from happening. Imagine it as a way to say, “We trust you…or at least, we want to make sure you stay on our good side.” The concept of wardship is not just a plot device in Game of Thrones, it is deeply rooted in historical practices of the medieval period, where children of nobility were often sent to other noble households to foster relationships, receive education and training, and, yes, to ensure good behavior through their presence as a quasi-hostage.

The Purpose of Wardship

Why would a noble family send their child away to live with another house? There are several reasons, each serving a distinct purpose. Let’s break them down:

Fostering Alliances and Building Bonds

One of the main reasons for taking a ward is to build or strengthen relationships between two houses. By sending a child to be raised in another family’s home, it creates a bond between those families. Think of it as a way of saying, “We’re putting our trust in you with our child.” This can lead to greater loyalty and a stronger alliance. Imagine two families who have been rivals for generations suddenly sharing a bond of trust, because one is raising the heir of another. This could ease old tensions and pave the way for a more peaceful future.

Education and Training

Another important reason for wardship is education. Noble children often need to learn important skills, like riding, swordsmanship, courtly manners, and statecraft. Some houses are particularly well-known for their training of knights or their scholarly teachers. By sending a child to a different house, they can receive an education that their own family may not be able to provide. It was common for a lord to send his heir to a well-known knight for squiring and military training. It was also common for young ladies to be sent to live in other noble households to learn the art of being a lady. The family that is acting as the guardian could also impart their house’s unique values or traditions.

Ensuring Good Behavior and Hostage-Like Security

Sometimes, the less friendly version of wardship comes into play. A lord might take a child as a ward to ensure the good behavior of the child’s family. This is more of a hostage situation than a friendly gesture. It’s a clear message that if the child’s family steps out of line, there could be repercussions for the ward. The ward’s safety becomes a kind of guarantee. This form of wardship is often used after conflicts or when there is some distrust between two houses, like we see between the Lannisters and the Starks after Robert’s Rebellion.

A Tool for Political Maneuvering

Taking a ward can also be a way for a lord to gain political advantage. For example, if a powerful lord takes a child as a ward from a less powerful house, it might give that powerful lord some influence over the ward’s family and their lands. Wardship can be used as a kind of chess piece in the game of thrones, and a clever lord could manipulate the system to their benefit. It gives a lord an “in” into the affairs of the house that has given the ward. It was seen that having a strong and powerful house as your guardian was a good way to increase your own house’s political standings.

The Life of a Ward

What does it mean to live as a ward? The experience can vary greatly depending on the circumstances. Here’s a glimpse into the life of a ward in Game of Thrones:

Daily Life and Upbringing

The day to day of a ward is very similar to that of a child of the house. They would live in the castle, eat in the great hall and participate in the events of the household. Some wards were treated as members of the family and formed very close bonds with their ward siblings, like Jon Snow at Winterfell. They would attend the same classes as the children of the house and learn the customs of the house they are living in. In some situations, wards were treated with care and kindness, becoming almost like adopted family members. They would receive the same training and opportunities as the children of the house.

Social Status and Treatment

The social status of a ward can vary greatly. Some wards are treated with the utmost respect and kindness, almost as if they are family. This is common when wardship is used to build positive relationships. Other wards are treated with suspicion and hostility, especially if they are seen as hostages. A child from a defeated enemy might be treated poorly and as a constant reminder of their family’s betrayal. The family’s current political standings also play a part in how the ward is treated. A ward from a family that was previously a rival might be treated with more suspicion.

The Potential for Conflict

Having a ward can also bring conflict into a household. Sometimes, there can be jealousy between the house’s children and the ward. The ward might be seen as taking attention or resources away from the children of the family. If a ward comes from a house that is currently in conflict with the ward’s guardian, it could lead to tension and discomfort within the house. As demonstrated, if a ward is treated as a hostage it could spark conflicts with other members of the household.

Notable Wards in Game of Thrones

There are many examples of wards within the world of Game of Thrones. Let’s examine a few prominent cases to illustrate the concepts we’ve discussed:

Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon at the Eyrie

One of the most important examples is Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon being fostered at the Eyrie by Jon Arryn. They became close friends and also had the opportunity to learn from a skilled warrior and strategist, Jon Arryn. This wardship cemented a strong bond between the houses of Arryn, Stark and Baratheon and played a major role in Robert’s rebellion.

Theon Greyjoy at Winterfell

Theon Greyjoy’s story shows the complex effects of wardship. He was taken as a ward by Eddard Stark after Balon Greyjoy’s rebellion. While he was raised alongside the Stark children, he never truly felt like part of the family. This created internal conflict, as he wasn’t fully trusted by the Starks nor did he fully identify with his own family. His divided loyalties ultimately play a role in his poor decisions and his betrayal of the Starks.

Joffrey Baratheon, Tommen Baratheon and Myrcella Baratheon as wards

The Lannister children were effectively wards of the crown, living at King’s Landing as children of King Robert Baratheon. The reality is that their presence was a form of hostage, as Cersei was married to the king, ensuring that the Lannister house would remain loyal and not seek power outside the crown. It was because of this presence at the capital that the siblings were able to play their part in the war and the future political climate.

Wardship as a Reflection of Society

The concept of wardship in Game of Thrones reflects the political and social realities of Westeros. It highlights the importance of alliances, the dangers of conflict, and the complex nature of power. The system of wardship is a perfect example of how personal relationships become entangled with political maneuvering in the series.

A System of Trust and Mistrust

Wardship is a testament to both the trust and mistrust that exists between the noble houses. The noble family are forced to trust their children with other lords, whether they want to or not. It’s a system that, in theory, promotes peace through fostering bonds. It can also be manipulated as a tool of control and oppression.

The Impact on Individual Lives

The experience of being a ward has a profound impact on the lives of those involved. It shapes their identity, their loyalties, and their place in the world. As can be seen in Theon Greyjoy’s story, the experience of being a ward can make someone feel like they don’t belong to a single family or location. It is a complicated situation that could provide opportunity or turmoil.

Wardship Throughout Westeros

The practice of wardship is a widespread custom throughout Westeros. It isn’t confined to a specific region or house. This highlights how common it is to see children from one house raised by another. The practice of wardship can help us understand the historical context of Westeros society and it’s social customs.

The Historical Basis of Wardship

It’s important to remember that wardship isn’t just a fantasy concept. It is rooted in historical practices from the medieval period. Many of these practices can be seen in the wardship system of Westeros.

Medieval Fostering and Hostages

During the medieval period, it was common practice for the children of nobles to be sent to live in other noble households. These children were often used to solidify bonds between families, as well as to ensure loyalty. Just like in Game of Thrones, the children were also there to get a better education or training that was not available to them in their own household. These children were sometimes even used as hostages, as was the case in Game of Thrones.

The Role of Loyalty and Duty

The concepts of loyalty and duty are central to both wardship in Game of Thrones and to the historical practices that inspired it. Lords expected their wards to be loyal to their host family, even as they maintained ties to their own. This idea of balancing loyalties is present in many stories, and is an important factor in medieval social systems.

The Political Implications

Just like in the books and TV series, wardship in the medieval period had significant political implications. It could affect the balance of power between families and even prevent wars. A well-placed ward could bring immense political sway to a lord. This political maneuvering is a theme that is consistently explored in the system of wardship throughout the Game of Thrones series.

In conclusion, wardship in Game of Thrones is more than just a plot device; it’s a deeply ingrained social and political practice that influences the relationships, loyalties, and destinies of many characters. It serves as a microcosm of the larger power struggles at play in Westeros, and it highlights the complex interplay between personal connections and political machinations. The practice of taking a ward, whether for building alliances, education, or securing good behavior, adds layers of depth to the story and emphasizes the high stakes in the game of thrones.